Type 1 diabetes is associated with higher plasma levels of biomarkers of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.
Type 1 diabetes is associated with higher blood neurofilament light chain levels.
Type 1 diabetes is associated with higher plasma levels of biomarkers of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with increased risk of dementias and other neurodegenerative diseases.
This study quantified plasma levels of biomarkers of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation [phosphorylated tau-181 (pTau-181), total tau (Tau), amyloid beta 42/amyloid beta 40 (Aβ42/40), glial fibrillary acidic protein (glial fibrillary acidic protein), and neurofilament light chain (NfL)], and tested associations with T1D and related characteristics.
This cross-sectional analysis of a subset of participants from the Coronary Artery Calcification in Type 1 Diabetes study included adults with and without T1D.
higher NfL, a sign of nerve fiber damage, in type 1 diabetes
In the sensitivity analysis, relative to adults without T1D, T1D with moderate/severe diabetic retinopathy was associated with higher Tau-181 [1.330 (1.063, 1.663), p=0.013], glial fibrillary acidic protein [1.369 (1.653, 1.608), p<0.001], and NfL [1.495 (1.252, 1.786), p<0.001], and T1D with none/mild diabetic retinopathy was associated with higher glial fibrillary acidic protein [1.228 (1.046, 1.442), p=0.013] and NfL [1.235 (1.037, 1.470), p=0.018].
As compared to T1D with none/mild diabetic retinopathy, T1D with moderate/severe diabetic retinopathy was associated with higher NfL [1.211 (1.011, 1.451), p=0.038].
Across both models, eGFR was inversely associated with Tau-181, NfL, and Tau (p<0.05 for all).
Further study is needed to fully characterize the interplay between these biomarkers and neuropathology in T1D.